Feed device



Dec. l0, 1940..

y H. E. cuLLEN ETAL Filed Feb. 12, 1940 FEED DEVICE 4 ShetS-Sheet 1 v gri/UQAM Hartl] Cullen and Heng] O. Ronnn Dec. 1,*1940. l H. 17:. cULLEN ETAL r 2,224,426

FEED DEVICE Hartl] Cullen and fm gafmw Dec. 10, 1940. H. E. cULLEN ETAL 2,224,426

FEED DEVICE 4 Smets-sheet s Filed Feb. 12, i940 *A wua/wbo'ni Harg Cullen and Henr 0. Ronhn Dec. 10,A 1940. H-E. ULLEN ETA.

FEED DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 12. 1940 Harri' SE. Cullen and 'He-ruigv O. Rojcvn Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES FEED DEVICE Harry E. Cullen and Henry Ronning, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Waldorf Paper Prodnets Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application February 12, 1940, Serial No. 318,451

9 Claims.

Our invention relates to feed devices and particularly toI feed devices adapted to feed blanks from a stack to a carton forming or filling device.

An object of the invention resides in providing a feed device which will be entremely positive in action.

A still further object 'of the invention resides in providing a feed device which will positively eject the blanks one at a time from the stack.

Another object of the invention resides in providing adevice in which the blanks are arranged in substantially horizontal position and in which the lowermost blank is ejected from the stack.

An object of the invention resides in providing a separator adapted to be inserted between the lowermost blank and the adjacent blank of the stack and to support the remainder of the stack during ejection of the lowermost blank.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a feed device in which the superimposed blanks are permitted to be lowered only after the lowermost blank has been ejected from the stack.

A feature of the invention resides in arranging the ejector to follow along with the separator and to eject from the stack only the blank disposed beneath the separator.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing supporting means on the ejector for maintaining the edge of the blank to be ejected in a position to be engaged by the ejecting means.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement ofparts and in the details of construction ,hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:` I

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevational sectional View of a carton forming machine illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken von line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion ture shown in Fig. 1.

Fig 4 is a fragmentary elevational sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational sectional view, similar to Fig. l, of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l drawn to a greater scale and showing the parts in altered position. v

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in still different positions.

Fig. is a perspective view of the blank.

In the feeding of thin blanks from a stackv considerable difficulty has been encountered with the of the strucfeed device feeding two blanks or not feeding any` at'all. The present invention overcomes'v this difficulty by separating the blank to be ejected from the remainder of the blanks in the stack prior tol ejection thereof from the stack.

v The particular blank, adapted to be formed into a carton by the instant invention designated at 3l is shown in detail in Fig. 7, and is constructed from paper board formed with two longitudinal scores 32 and 33 and with, two transverse scores 34 and 35 which divide the blank into a bottom 36, side walls 3l and 38, and end walls 39 and 40. In addition, the blank 3| isconstructed to proivide flaps 4I and 42 .issuing outwardly from the side walls 3l and 38 and hingedly connected to the same through the scores 34 and 35. These naps are adapted to be folded overand attached to the end walls 39 and 40 by means of any suitablev adhesive such as now used for the purpose.. The side walls 31 and 38 may be constructed doubled-over, in which case the edges 43 thereof become rounded. In the erection of the carton the walls 3l, 38, 39 and 40 are bent about the scores 32, 33, 34 and 35 until the walls extend at yright angles to the bottom 36 and theflaps 4I and 42 glued to the end walls 39 and 40. This is accom- 25 plished over a suitable form in which the substance to bepackaged is 'contained and thereafter the formed carton, together with the contents of the form removed from the form.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention we have shown in the drawings a portion of a carton forming machine A which is provided with a framework B. Mounted on the framework B is a rack C for supporting blanks to be formed into cartons. VRearwardly of the rack C is a feed'de'- 35 vice D which constitutes the inventive feature of the machine and whichA is operated by a drive mechanism E.- The blanks, on leaving the rack C, are formed into cartons in a forming device F. These various parts will now be described in detail, f,

The framework B consists of two end frames It) and Il, identical in construction, which are shown in Fig. l, The end frame Ill is illustrated in detail in Fig.2 and consists of two uprights I2 and yI3 constructed of angle stock. These uprights are connected together at their upper ends by means of a cross bar I4, all of the parts of which are welded together, In addition, another cross bar ,l5 extends across the said uprights intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof which may be secured 4thereto in any suitable manner. The two uprights l2 and I3 of frame lll are connested to the corresponding uprights of the frame I I by means of two longitudinally extending angle frame members I6 and I1. In addition, to these longitudinal frame members two additional longitudinal frame members I8 and I9 are employed which are constructed from rectangular bars and which extend across the cross frame members I4 and are rigidly bolted thereto in spaced relation.

The rack C is best shown in Figs, 1 and 3 and comprises six uprights v2|, 22,. 23 and 24, These uprights are constructed of rectangular bar stock and have the upper ends 25 thereof bent outwardly to facilitate insertion of the blanks 3| into the rack. The uprights 2| and 22 are attached to the longitudinal frame members I8'and I9 by means of spacer blocks 44 whereby the said upE rights become spaced from the said frame members. The uprights 24 are directly secured to a cross bar 45 which extends across the longitudinal frame members I8 and I9 and which is secured thereto. The uprights 23 are similarly secured to a casting I 96 forming a part of the forming device F which vwill be subsequently more fully described. In Figs. 5 and 6 a number of blanks have been shown, the lowermost of which is designated by the reference numeral 3| and the superimposed ones being designated by the reference numerals 3Ia'and 3|b. The uprights 2|, 22, 23 and 24 are spaced so as to engage the edges of the said blanks and hold the same in a stack 41 within the rack C. The lowermost blank 3|` is supported in a manner to be presently described in detail.

'The feed device D consists of an ejector 48 and a separator 49 which are supported and guided for movement in the following manner:

The ejector 48 consists of a lplate rectangular in form which is best shown in Fig. 5. This plate rests upon two guide bars 5I and 52 which extend across and rest upon the upper surface of the cross frame member I4 of the end frame I0. The two guide bars 5| and 52 extend beneath the rack C and are attached to lugs 53 formed on a guide box 54 constituting part of the forming device F. This guide box extends across the two longitudinal frame members I8 and |9 and is secured to the underside thereof. The

. ejector 48 has secured to it two guide strips 55 of a thickness slightly greater than or equal to the thickness of the guide bars 5I and 52 which slide along the said guide bars and guide the ejector 48 for reciprocating movement along said guide bars. A plate 56, attached to the undersides of the guide strips 55 by means of screws 51 hold the ejector 48 in place upon the guide bars 5| and 52 and prevent movement of the same out of the plane of said guide bars. The guide bars 5| and 52 are of such a height as to support the lowermost blank 3| of the stack 41 in the rack C. Ejector 48,resting upon these guide bars, is in a position to engage the edge 43 of the lowermost blank 3| and to move the said blank longitudinally out of the stack 41. To facilitate such movement the uprights 23 of rack C are spaced from the guide bars 5| and 52 to providea space 53 through which the blank 3| may be ejected. Likewise the uprights 24 of the rack C are spaced from the guide bars 5| and 52 to permit of entry of the ejector 48 into the ystack 41. The uprights 2| and 22 may project below the guide bars 5| and 52, if desired.

The separator 49 consists of a vplate which is shaped as shown in Fig. 3 having a curved leading edge 59 which is formed with a sharpened bevel. This separator overlies the ejector 48 and is closely positioned relative thereto so that the under surface thereof and the upper surface of the ejector 48 are substantially co-planar. The separator 49 is guided for movement by means of two longitudinally extending guide bars 6I and 62, similar to the guide bars 5I and 52.

These guide bars overlie the guide bars 5| and 52 and at their outer ends are supported relative to the same by means of spacer blocks 63. A clamp bar 64 extends across the two guide bars 6I and 62 and bolts 65 extending jointly through said clamp bar, the guide bars 6I and 62, blocks 63 and the guide bars 5| and 52, and threaded into the cross frame member I4 of end frame I8 hold the parts rigidly attached to the frame B. Other screws 66 extend through the longitudinal frame members I8 and I9 and are threaded into the clamp bar 64 and stiften and reinforce the portion of the framework B formed by the frame members I 8 and I 9. The forward ends of the guide bars 6I and 62 are attached to the underside of the cross bar 45 which supports the uprights 24 of the rack C. In this manner the two sets of guides consisting of the guide bars 6I and 62 and the guide bars 5| and 52 are separated from one another throughout their extent to permit movement of the ejector 48 and the separator 49.

The separator 49 is mounted in a manner similar to the ejector 48 and has attached to it two guide strips 61, similar to the guide strips 55. A plate 68 overlies these guide strips and the guide bars 6I and 62 and is attached to the said guide strips by means of screws 69. In this manner the separator 49 is guided for movement along the guide bars 6| and 62. The ejector 48 is of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the blank 3|, While the separator 49 may be of any desired thickness. In actual construction we prefer to make the said separator as thin as possible so as to avoid shifting the individual blanks in the stack 41 an appreciable amount. Inasmuch as the beveled edge 59 of the separator 49 is on the upper surface of the same, the lower surface of the said separator at which the sharpened edge is disposed lies in the plane between the lowermost blank 3| and the superimposed blank 3Ia. It will thus be readily comprehended that, when the separator 49 is advanced along the guides 6I and 62, the same engages in between the edges 43 of the lowermost and the next to the lowermost blank in the stack 41 and may enter between the said blanks. The position of the separator, when disposed between the said blanks, is as noted in Fig. 5. When, thereafter, the ejector 48 is moved, as disclosed in Fig. 6, the said ejector is free to engage the lowermost blank 3| and eject the same through the space 58 and into the forming device F.

The drive mechanism E for operating the said feed device D is best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This mechanism includes a shaft 1I, journalled in bearings 12 secured to the longitudinal frame members I6 and I1. Collars 13 on this shaft restrain axial movement thereof. 'I'he shaft 1I has mounted on it two cams 14 and 15, which function in a manner to be presently described and which cause movement of the ejector 48 and separator 49.

Extending across the lowermost portion of the uprights I2 and I3 of the frame I8, is a stationary shaft 16. This shaft is mounted in supports 'I1 in the nature of bearings, which supports are secure to the uprights I2 and I3. The shaft 'I6 is held from movement with reference to the supports 11 by means of set screws 18 extending through said supports and engaging the shaft.

Pivotally mounted on the shaft 16 is a lever 19 which is constructed with a boss 8| journalled on the shaft. This lever is restrained from axial movement by means of twocollars 82 and 83 secured to the said shaft. The lever 19 has rotatably mounted on it a roller 85, which is adapted to engage the cam 15. The lever 19 extends upwardly beyond cross frame member I4 of frame I0 and in between the longitudinal frame members I8 and I9. Pivoted to the upper end of the lever 19 at 86 is a link 81, which is pivoted at its other end by means of pintle 88 to two ears 90, issuing upwardly from and attached to the plate 68. By means of this construction the plate 68 is reciprocated and at the same time the separator 49 which is connected to it, is moved from one extreme position to the other.

A tension coil spring 98 is connected at one end to the lever 19 and at its other end to an adjusting bolt 99 secured to a mounting |8| attached to the frame |I. This spring urges the roller into engagement with the cam 15 and causes the lever 19 to follow the cam as the cam operates.

Mounted on the fixed shaft 16 is another lever 88, similar to the lever 19, which is provided with a boss 89 journalled on the said shaft. Collars 9| hold this lever from axial movement on the shaft. The lever 88 extends upwardly and terminates at a position below the crossframe member I4 of frame I8. This lever has rotatably mounted on it a roller 92, which engages the cam 14. The upper end of this lever 88 has pivoted to it at 93 a link 94 which extends below the guide bars 5| and 52. This link is pivoted at its other end by means of a pintle to lugs 9B issuing outwardly from the under side of the plate 56. By means of this construction, the plate 56 is reciprocated along the guide bars 5| and 52 and the ejector 48 caused to move from one extreme position to the other.

A spring |82, similar to the spring 98, is connected to the lever 88 and is attached at its other end to the mounting IDI. This spring serves the same purpose as the spring 98 and maintains the roller 92 in contact with .the cam 14 so that the lever 88 is reciprocated in opposite directions as the cam operates.

The two levers 19 and 88 are separated from one another at the location of the two cams 14 and 15 and are bent at |10 and 91 to bring the upper ends of the same into close proximity to procure application of force to the plates 68 and 56 near the centers of the same.

For the purpose of supporting the lowermost blank 3l and preventing the same from bowing downwardly and interfering with the ejection thereof, a support in the nature of a pad |43 is employed which is attached to a bracket |44 extending outwardly from and secured to the plate 56. This pad is prefer-ably of a resilient material such as rubber or the like and the upper surface thereof is level with the upper surface of the guide bars 5| and 52. The lowermost blank is .thus maintained with the edge 43 thereof in the proper position to be engaged by the ejector 48. This causes the device to operate in a positive and effective manner.

To prevent the blanks from being ejected from the stack 41, when the separator 49 is being inserted between the lowermost blank and the adjacent blank, two stops I21 are employed which are attached to two arms |26 situated adjacent the longitudinal frame members I8 and |9. In-

asmuch as the method ofmounting the arms |26 and the construction for operating the same is identical for both of the arms, only that in connection with the arm associated with the longitudinal frame member I8 will be described in detail. 'I'he arm |26 is pivoted on a stud |34 secured to the longitudinal frame member I8 and is adapted to swing in an up-and-down direction. The lowermost extremity |35 of the upright 2| of rack C extends below the block 44 to which it is attached to form a guide for holding the said arm |26 in proper position. The arm |26 is urged upwardly by a construction, best shown in Fig. 4. Threaded into the cross bar 45 is a bolt |36 which passes freely through the arm |28 and which is formed with a head |31 which becomes situated upon the underside of said arm. A compression coil spring |38 encircles the lowermost portion o-f this bolt and is seated against the head |31 and against the underside of the arm |26. 'Ihis urges the arm |26 upwardly.

The arm |26 has issuing from it a stud |39 which has rotatably mounted at the end of it a roller |25. The said stud is bent downwardly so that the roller 25 is positioned beneath the plate 56 attached to the ejector 48. This roller is adapted to engage a cam |24 attached to the plate 56. The cam |24 has a beveled cam surface |4| and a cam surface |42 parallel with the plate 56. As soon as the surface I4I engages the cam roller |25 arm |26 is swung downwardly and the stop |21 moved to a position below the lowermost blank 3| to permit of ejecting the same from the stack 41. During ejection of the blank, the roller |25 engages the surface |42 and maintains the ystop in disengaging position. When the plate 56 reaches its extreme retracted position the roller I 25 engages the plate |56 and brings the stop |21 into active position where it remains until the cycle is repeated.

Inasmuch as the forming device F does not constitute a particular feature of the invention the same has not been illustrated in detail in the .drawings and no mechanism has been shown for operating the same. It will, however, be comprehended that the invention proper may be used to feed carton blank to any sort of a machine which operates upon the blanks and is not to be limited to the specific machine in which the vgoods to be packaged are inserted into the carton. y

The forming device F consists of two castings |83 land |84 which extend transversely of the machine and which are formed with base members |05 and |06 and with end walls |81 and |98. The casting |03 is attached to atable |88 which rests upon the two longitudinal frame members I8 and I9. 'I'he casting |84 is attached to a-table III adjoining the table |89, which table is similarly secured .to the longitudinal frame members I8 and I9. The base |88 of casting |84 is spaced from the two guide bars 5I and 52 to provide the space 58, previously referred to, and through which the carton blanks are inserted.A In the table |89 is formed an opening |33.

Y Below the two longitudinal frame members I8 and I9 are provided the guide box 54, previously referred to. This guide box is providedfwith two vertically 'extending walls |I2 and I|3 and a bottom II4 connected thereto. The walls H2 and `I I3 have lugs 53 secured thereto by means of which the said guide box may be attached to the undersides of the longitudinal frame members I8 and I9. The two guide bars 5| and 52 are supported on certain of these lugs and terminate at the inner surface of the wall H3 of the said guide box. Other guide bars I5, which form a continuation of the guide bars 5|, commence at the inner surfaces of the wall Ii 2 and extend to the other end of the machine. These guide bars are similarly supported. The base |85 of the casting |83 is attached to the guide bars H5. 4

In the gui-de box 54 is mountedY a plunger H8 which has attached to it a vertically extending tube HI. Tube |I'I is guided for vertical reciprocating movement relative to the guide box 54 in a guide H8 attached to the underside of the bottom H4 of thel said guide box. Within this tube is slidably mounted a rod H9 which has attached to the upper portion thereof an engaging member IZI. Both the plunger H6 and the engaging member |2| are independently movable and may move up to the surface of the tables |89 and HI.

The packaged goods are removed from 'the forming device F by means of the following construction: ttached to the upper surface of the table |09 are two angle-shaped guides |48 and |41 which extend up to the edges of the opening |33. On the table III is disposed a pusher |48 which has a base |49 slidably mounted in guides |5| attached to said table. This pusher has two boxes |52 extending upwardly therefrom through which a shaft |53 extends. Shaft |53 has pivoted to it at its ends two links |54 which extend in a direction away from the rack C.

In operation the rack C is lled with blanks, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, and the machine set in operation. Normally both the separator 49 and the ejector 48 are in the positions shown in Fig. 1 and toward the right end of the Inaermost blank 3| chine. As the shaft 'II rotates, cam '|5 moves in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1, and spring 98 urges lever 19 to move toward the left. This moves the separator 49 in between the lowand the adjacent blank 3|a. until the said separator reaches the position shown in Fig. 5. During such movement the stops |21 are in their upper positions and restrain movement of the blanks out of the rack C. During such movement of the lever 'I9 the roller 92 rides on the circular portion of the cam 'I4 and remains stationary. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5 the cams at the locality designated by the reference numeral |22 are engaging the rollers 85 and 92. As the shaft II continues to rotate, lever 88 is moved toward the rack C and lever 19 remains stationary. During such movement the ejector 48 engages the edge 43 of the lowermost blank 3| and shifts said blank out of the rack C and through the space 58 and into the compartment |23 formed between the two castings |03 and |04. As soon as the lever 88 commences to move the wedge-shaped cams |24 thereon engage rollers |25 and swings the arms |26 downwardly. This lowers the stops |21 and frees the lowermost blank 39 which may thereafter be ejected through the space 58 and intothe compartment |23 as described. The position of the blank 3|, when partly ejected from the stack 41 is shown in Fig. 6. Movement of the lever 88 continues until the blank has been moved to a position where the same is centrally over the plunger I I6. A metal form containing the commodity to be packaged, which is indicated at |28 in Fig. 1, is

inserted into the box guide 54 above the plunger H8. This 'form has channel-shaped members |29 at the edges thereof which engage lugs 3| on the plunger H6. The form |28 is so proportioned that the same comes immediately beneath the bottom 36 of the blank 3|. As the plunger I6 is raised the sides 3'| and 38 vof the blank are folded inwardly and likewise the ends 39 and 40 by means of walls |32 similar to the walls |01 and |08. The walls of the carton are thus caused to fold about the form |28 and as upward movement of the plunger continues the folded carton becomes ejected through the opennig |33 in the table |09.

After the carton has been formed about the' form |28 and the same ejected through the opening |33 and to the upper surface of the table |09 the engaging member |2| and the rod H9 are maintained in elevated position while the plunger H6 is lowered. During such movement the lugs |3| engage the channel-shaped member |29 of the form |28 and withdraw the same from within the carton, leaving the goods packaged in the carton. The packaged goods are then removed from in a position over the opening |33 and table |09 and shifted along said table. When the links |54 are moved toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, the completed package resting upon the engaging member-IZI is shifted along on top of the table |09 between the guides |46 and removed from a position over the hole |33 to permit of a repetition of the cycle of operations.

The advantages of our invention are manifest. The device is execeedingly simple in operation and can be constructed at a nominal cost. By means of the separator used positive feeding of the blanks from the stack is procured. With our invention there is no danger of the device feeding two blanks or failing to feed a single blank. While the lowermost blank is being ejected from the rack the remaining blanks are positively supported throughout the larger area thereof by the separator. By the use of the stops it becomes impossible to eject the blanks while the separator is inserted between the lowermost blank and adjacent blank.

Changes in the specific form o-f our invention, as herein disclosed, may be made :within the scope of what is claimed without departing fromv the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention. what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination, a rack for supporting a stack of planiform blanks each arranged in a substan-y tially horizontal position, upper and lower spaced guides parallel with the planes of the blanks, a plate-like separator guided for movement along the upper guide, said separator being adapted to enter between the lowermost blank and adjacent blank to support the portion of the stack above the lowermost blank, a plate-like ejector slid-I ably mounted onsaid lowermost guide and having a portion adapted to engage an edge of the lowermost blank for ejecting the same from the' stack, the lowermost surface of said separator and the uppermost surface of said ejector being substantially coplanar.

2. In combination, a framework comprising a pair of longitudinally extending frame members,`

an end across frame member at one end of the longitudinal frame members, two spaced intermediate cross frame members situated intermediate the ends of the longitudinal frame members, a lower guide secured to the end cross frame member and extending parallel with said longitudinal frame member, means for supporting said guide at its other end, a second guide superimposing said rst guide and supported at one end by said end cross frame member, said second guide being attached to one of said intermediate cross frame members at its other end and being spaced from the first named guide throughout the greater portion of its extent and at the locality of,attachment thereof to the intermediate cross frame member, uprights secured to said longitudinal frame members and to said intermediate cross frame members to form a rack for the reception of a stack of blanks, said rst guide forming a bottom for the rack, a plate-like separator disposed upon the underside of said second named guide and adapted to be moved in between the lowermost blank and the adjacent blank, an ejector disposed upon the uppermost guide and adapted to engage an edge of the lowermost blank, and means for guiding said separator and ejector for movement along said guides.

3. In combination, a framework comprising a pair of longitudinally extending frame members, an end cross frame member at one end of the longitudinal frame members, two spaced intermediate cross frame members situated intermediate the ends of the longitudinal frame members, a lower guide secured to the end cross frame member and extending parallel with said longitudinal frame members, means for supporting said guide at its other end, a second guide superimposing said first frame member and supported at one end by said end cross frame member, said second guide being attached to one of said intermediate cross ira-me members at its other end and being spaced from the first named guide throughout the greater portion of its extent and at the locality of attachment thereof to the intermediate cross frame member, uprights secured to said longitudinal framemembers and tosaid intermediate cross frame members to form a rack for the reception of a stack of blanks, said first guide forming a bottom for the rack, a plate-like separator disposed upon the underside of said second named guide and adapted to bemoved in between the lowermost blank and the adjacent blank, a plate-like ejector disposed upon the lowermost guide and adapted to engage an edge of the lowermost blank, and means for guiding said separator and ejector for movement along said guides, said guides being positioned so that the lowermost surface of said separator and the uppermost surface of said ejector are substantially coplanar. y

4. In combination, a rack forsupporting a stack of blanks, a separator movable laterally of the stack to separate the end blank from the adjacent blank, a stop for restraining movement of the blanks in the stack during entry of the separator between the blanks, an ejector movable in the same direction as the separator for ejecting the end blank from the stack, and means operated by said ejector forrendering said stop inoperative.

5. In combination, a frame, a rack for supporting a stack of blanks carried by said frame, a separator movable-along said frame laterally of the stack and adapted to enter in between the end blank and the adjacent blank, a lever pivoted to said frame, a stop carried by said lever and .movable into obstructing and non-obstructing position to control the ejection of blanks from the stack, an ejector movable in the same direction as the separator for ejecting the end blank from the stack, and a cam carried by said ejector for swinging said lever to bring the stop into unobstructing position.

6. In combination, a rack for a stack of blanks, guide means below the rack extending transversely of the stack and supporting the blanks, a separator movable laterally of the stack and parallel to the guide means to separate the end blank from the adjacent blank, and an ejector movable along the guide means in the same direction as the separator and engaging an edge of the lowermost blank of the stack, said ejector sliding along the guide means and ejecting the blank from the stack.

7. In combination, a rack for a stack of plani- `form blanks each arranged in a substantially horizontal position, guide means below the rack extending transversely of the stack, a plate-like separator movable laterally of the stack and parallel to said guide means and between the lowermost blank and the adjacent blank andsupporting vthe stack above the lowermost blank, a plate-like ejector having an edge adapted to engage an edge of the lowermost blank and movable along the guide means in a plane parallel to the plane of said plate-like separator, said ejector serving to eject the lowermost blank from the stack while the remainder of the stack is supported by said separator.

8. In combination, a rack for supporting a stack of planiform blanks `each arranged in a substantially horizontal position, a plate-like separator guided for movement between the lowermost blank andthe adjacent blank for supporting the stack above the lowermost blank, a plate-like ejector positioned below the separator and mov-- able in the same direction as the separator, said ejector having a portion adapted to engage an edge of the lowermos-t blank for ejecting the same from the stack, the lowermost portion of the separator and uppermost surface of the ejector being substantially coplanar.

9. In combination, a rack for supporting avstack of blanks, a separator movable laterally of the stack to separate the end blank from the adjacent blank, a stop for restraining movement of the blanks laterally of the stack during entry of the separator between the blanks, an ejector movable in the same direction as the separator for moving the end blank laterally from the stack, and means for withdrawing said stop prior to ejection of the end blank of the stack.

HARRY E. CULLEN. HENRY O. RONNING. 

